Brand of Possession

The debris cleared away, they lay side by side on the blanket, a glass of wine beside them both. ‘You said you were born here,’ Stacy said sleepily. ‘Does that mean your mother and father are English?’

Jake turned on his side, leaning on his elbow to look down at her. ‘My mother is. My father was an American serviceman. They met during the war and were married here.’

‘Does your mother like living in America?’ she asked, more for something to say than actual interest. Jake was lying much too close to her, his thigh touching her own, that she had to keep his attention on things other than herself.

‘I’ve never asked her.’ His hand trailed down her bare arm. ‘But she rarely comes back here, so I suppose she must do.’

‘But you’ve never asked her,’ she said with amusement.

‘Are you rebuking me?’

‘Do you feel rebuked?’ she teased.

‘Yes.’

‘Then I suppose I must have been.’ She laughed at his expression. ‘Poor Jake, you aren’t used to such treatment, are you?’

‘I guess not,’ he admitted, grinning ruefully.

‘Your poor mother,’ she smiled. ‘Do you have any brothers and sisters?’

‘Two sisters and one brother, all of them younger than me. My youngest sister, a surprise to us all, is only a year older than you.’

‘Have you known Mr Weston long?’

‘Yes,’ he answered tersely. ‘Do you want to know my whole life story?’ he asked impatiently.

‘I wouldn’t mind.’ She wouldn’t be daunted by his change of mood.

He took her glass of wine out of her hand. ‘Well, you aren’t going to. I have much better things to do than talk about my life.’ He touched the knotted front of her bikini in the centre of her breasts. ‘Does this really hold this top together?’ he asked huskily.

‘Yes,’ she said breathlessly, unable to move.

‘Mm,’ his fingers played with the material. ‘Very tempting.’

‘It isn’t meant to be.’ She couldn’t repress her shivers of delight as his fingers lightly brushed her midriff. ‘And I would prefer it if you aren’t tempted.’

‘Not even a little bit?’

She swallowed hard. ‘No.’

‘But I can’t help it.’ His hand clamped about her waist. ‘I think that so far I’ve behaved myself very well with you. I’m not usually this patient.’

‘So far?’ she echoed softly. ‘Does that mean you’re running out of patience?’

Jake bent his head to caress her throat with gentle lips. ‘I could be,’ he murmured. ‘Would you mind?’

‘I don’t know,’ she answered truthfully.

‘You’re a sweet child. But I don’t think of you as a child!’ he added with a groan. ‘Can I kiss you?’

‘Do you need to ask?’ Her big green eyes were fixed on his compelling face.

‘I think so.’

She wanted him to kiss her, she wanted it very much. ‘Then the answer is yes.’

She raised her face for his kiss, her mouth opening beneath the pressure of his. It didn’t seem to matter any more that she had only met him yesterday. After all, if he had been someone of her own age, one of the crowd, she wouldn’t have thought anything to them sharing a few kisses on their day out together.